Higsmpensiomi discouwbctusro switch



May 13/1924. Re. 15,838 I F. P. LAWLER gran mansion msconusc'rme swin -1 *Origlngl Fil-ed Aug 15, 1923 1': 1

inven'bor I Frank P! Lav/lav,

I His. Attorney- I Re. 15,838

F. P. LAWLER men musmn msc'duusc'rms swl'rcn Original med Au 15 1921 s Sheg'gs-Sheet 2 May 13, 1924. Re; 15,838 Y }F.} P. LAWLER HIGH TENSION DISCONNECTING SWITCH 8 Filed w 15.11921 :5 Sheets$heet s Fruit R Lawlqr,

Reissued May 13, 1924'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. LAWLEB. 01 BAN QRANCIBCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELEC- TRIC COKIQANY, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HIGH-TENSION DISCONKECTING SWITCH.

Original No. 1,484,368; dated August I, 1823, Serial No. 492,583, filed August 15, 1821. Application for reissue filed Karen 12,

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FRANK P. LAWLEK,

a. citizen of the United States, residing at.

the city andcounty of San Franciscoand 6 State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in High-Tension Disconnecting Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches,

and as cially to a disconnecting switch adapte for the control of extra high tension electric circuits where agreat length of clear separation between the contactsis re uired within a minimum of space.

brie of the objects of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify switches of the character described, and especially to provide a switch in which the contacts are arranged in line formation and movable in a common plane, and in*which large clearance between the contacts is obtained in a minimum of space. Another object'of the invention is to obtain a switch which has no tendency to change its setting through the influence of gravity following the mechanical failure of any part; and

further, to. rovide switch which may be disposed eitier above or below a suitable support with equal facility. Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts .48 hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanydrawings, in whichas mp r a .1g. 1 1s a side elevation of a doublebreak, sectionalizing switch employing the carriage type of operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a detailed cross section of the base, showing the position of one of the carriages.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a double disconnecting switch which may be used for isolating' an oil circuit breaker, said switch also employing the carriage type of operating mec ianism.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation. of a single-break sectionalizing switch employing the carriage type of operating mechanism.

ig. 5 is a view in diagram showlng the operating means for the carriages.

Referring to the drawings in. detail, and

articularly Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates a ase, upon which the switch is mounted.

1924. Serial No. 698,784.

The base in this instance consists of a air of interspaced channel beams 2, upon w ich are supported a plurality of contacts, such as indlcated at 3, 4, 5 and 6. The contacts for opening and closing the circuit through 'the main line shown engaged at 7 are of well-known bayonet and socket ty Two of the contacts are stationary an are ri idly secured to illar insulators of suitab e insulatin capacity for the voltage employed, said insu ators being indicated at 8 and 9. The remaining contacts 4 and 5 are similarly supported by illar insulators, as shown at 10 and 11, butt ey are movable with relation to the stationary contacts, as will hereinafter be described.

To accomplish this movement the pillars 10 and 11 are each supported by a carria e, as shown at 12 and 13, respectively. Tie carriages are supported by rollers and the rollers are in turn disposed between the channel beams which form tracks and guides therefor. The contacts 4 and 5 areconnected by means of a pair of toggle links 15, while-the carriages 12 and .13 are connected by means of an endless cable 16. Forming a portion of the cable is a sprocket chain 17, and adapted to support this end of the cable is a sprocket gear '8 which is secured on a shaft 19; this shatt being provided with a hand wheel or other means by which turning movement may be imparted. The opposite end of the cable passes over an idler rpulley 20. The cable is otherwise crossed, as shown at 21; to permit the carriages to move in opposition to each other when the circuit throu h the contac'tsfis to be established or bro 611.

The line c0nducto1s,'sl1o\vn. at 7, are insulated with relation to the base A by means of dead end insulators 22, and a connection is formed-between the line conductors and the contacts 3 and 6 by means of jumper connections 23.. a

In actual o eration if it is desired to close the circui between the line conductors, it is only necessary to turn the shaft 19 in one direction. This turning movement 'will be transmitted to the cable connecting the carriages by means of the chain section 17 and the carriages will move away from each toggle links c 7 pair of carriages conductor of suitable capacity attached to the same forms a 'connec tion between the contacts l'and 5. Again, if it is desired to break the circuit bet-ween the line conductors, it is only necessary to turn shaft 19 in the opposite direction. Such turning movemcnt will cause the carriages to move together or assume the central position shown in Fig.1. A large air gap will then be formed between the contacts 3 and i and similarly between the contacts 5 and 6, thus positively breaking the circuit through the line conductors. 7

In cases whereagang of switches is pro vided, as in opening the circuit on a polyphase line, the base A will naturally be constructed in the same manner for each of the several switches. ,The contacts of each of the switches are arranged in line formatiom'as shown in Fi 1, and the switches are separated lateral y only a suflicient distance to obtain the air gap or insulation required. The switch may thus be'duplicated as many times as required and the shaft 19 may be extended so that all switches may be operated in unison.

The switch as shown and described in Fig. I is practically identical with the modified form-"shown in Fig. 3. The switch there illustrated is a disconnecting switch for isolating an oil circuit breaker for inspection or other purposes. The switch shown in Fig. 3 is constructed like that illustrated in Fig. 1; one difference being that the insulating pillars and the contacts carried thereby are suspended or disposed below the base insteadof above the same, as shown in Fig. 1. The toggle links are also eliminated and yieldable connections consisting of heavy flexible conductors 27 are substituted therefor, said conductors forming the circuit between the. oil circuit breaker and the movable contacts.

In Fig 4 a single-break sectionalizing switch is shown. The main line, indicated at 30, is in'ihis instance connected with a pair of dead end insulators 31 which in turn are secured to a tower arm 32 or like suport. Disposed below the tower arm is a )ase member ll, and mounted thereon is a 7 Each carriage forms a support for a pillar insulator and each insulator, in turn, carries a contact which is connected by means of a' yieldable connection consisting of a flexible conductor or jumper 34 with the line conductors 30. In other words. a single break switch is employed in which both contacts are movable: this being accomplished by mounting the contacts on separate carriages which are movable torund away from each other by the same mechanism as that indicated in Fig. 1.

A comparatively compact. simple switch is In this manner prmluccd and a large separation is obtained between the conlarts when uassa the circuit is broken withoiit resorting to the use of unnecessary space. In fact, one of the important features of the present inven tion is the provision of a switch which per mits the formation of considerable clear ance between the contacts when they separated, a switch in which overhead cle' ance may be reduced to a minimum and in which cost of installation 'and construction is low compared with the other switches of this type.

This can readily be appreciated when it is stated that any blade switches open ng into a vertical plane naturally f uire' ja large overhead clearance. Similar y any blade switches rotating in ahorizontal plane require extraordinary separation between. the several switches where they are arranged in group formation. All such an necessary clearance is avoided in the present instance as the only separation required be tween switches in a gang is only such as is required for insulation. This is due to the fact that the contacts of each individual switch are arranged in line formation and travel in said line formation when closing or-breaking the circuits.

\ lVhile bayonet contacts are here illustrated, it is obvious that any other form of contact may be employed and also that changes may bemade in. the design and con struction and that the 'inaterials and .tinish of the several parts may be such. as the perience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or varyingconditions may demand. I

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. An electric switch comprisinga base member, insulators movably supported by said base member, a pair of alined contacts carried by said insulators, and means for ,imparting movement to said insulators to move said contacts simultaneously in opposite directions on a common plane and on a common longitudinal axis to make break a circuit through said contacts.

2. An electric switch comprising a base member, a plurality of contacts arranged in line formation and supported by the base, and means for imparting moven ient to a pluralityot the contacts simultaneously in opposite directions on a common plane and. in said line formation to make or break a circuit at two points.

An electric switch comprising a base member, a plurality of stationary and movable contacts arranged in line formation and supported upon the base, and means for imparting movement to the mo contacts simultaneously in opposite tions on a common plane and in formation to open or close; a circuit threw the contacts. 1

4. An electricswitch comprising a support, a guicleway thereon, a pair of stationnry contacts, aapair of contacts insulated with relation to the ideway and movable therein and located fitween and in alignment with the stationary contacts, and means for imparting movement to the con tacts to and away from eachother.

5. An electric switch comprising a base member, a trackway formed thereoiu'a-stationary contact disposed at each end of the trackway and insulat d therefrom, a pair of movable contacts supported by the trackway and insulated therefrom, said movable contacts being interposed between the stationmy contacts and all of said contacts being arranged in line formation, and means for imparting movement to the movable contacts simultaneously in opposite directions to and away from the stationary contacts.

6. An electric switch comprising a base member, a straight track way secured thereto, an insulating pillar disposed at each end of the trackway, a contact carried by each pillar, a pair of carriages supported by the lrackway and disposed between the stationary pillars, an insulating pillar supported by each carriage, a contact supported by each last named insulating pillar,means connecting said last named contacts and permitting separation of the same, and means for imparting movement to the carriages alon t e trackway simultaneously 1Il opposite ircctions to move the movable contacts to and away from the stationary contacts.

7. An electric switch comprising abase member, a straight truckway secured thereto, an insulating pillar disposed at each endconnecting said last named contacts and permitting separation of the same, an end: less cable. connected with the carriages, a driving undan idler pulley supporting the same, said cable being crossed to move the carriages simultaneously in opposite directions, and means for imparting movement to the driving pulley.

8. In a switch of the character described, a straight trackway, a pair of carriages guided and supported by the trackway, an insulating pillar on each carriage, a contact on the upper end of each insulating pillar, means for moving the carriages simultaneously in opposite directions, an electric conducting line, a dead end insulator interposed in said line, and a flexible condnctor connecting each dead end of the I] us with the respective contacts.

9. In a switch of the character described. a straight track member, a dead end insulator disposed at each-end of the track memher, a line conductor connected to each dead end insulator, a stationary pillar insulator supported at each end of the track member, a contact disposed on the upper end of each of said insulators, a jumper connection between each end of the line conductors and said contacts, and a pair of connected contacts movable simultaneously in opposite directions in line formation between the stationary contacts.

10. In a switch of the character described,

a pair of line conductors, dead end insu-.

lators separating the same, a pair pf pillar insulators disposed adjacent to each dead end insulator, a contact on the upper end of each pillar insulator, means connecting said contacts with the line conductors, and a pair of connected contact members disposed between the fiist named'contacts and movable in line formation simultaneously in opposite directions between said contacts to make or break a circuit through the same.

11. In a switch of the character described,,

on the said carriage, a movable contact supported by the insulating pillar of the carriage and toggle links connected withthe movable contact.

' I2. A switch of the character described comprising in combination with a power line a base having a straight trackway in longitudinal alignment with the power line and interposed in a break in said line, fixed insulatmg pillars disposed at the ends of said trackway, stationary contacts supported by said pillars and receiving-the free ends of the line at the breakthcreof, and means movable along the trackway and in an aligned path with the power line to establish an: electrical connection between the contacts carried by the fixed pillars, said means the carriage is movedto-cause engagement of said contacts whereby the circuit through the line conductor may be opened or closed fupon operation of said carriage along said trackway.

14. Any electric switch of the class (1e scribedcomprising a' base vmember, a plurality of :insulators supported by said base member, cooperating contacts supported by mid insulators, and means whereby move ment along said base member-may be imparted to a. plurality of said insulators to move said contacts in'line formation toward and iron? each other to cause engagement or disengagement of the contacts.

15. An electric switch of the class described comprising a base member, a plu-' rality of insulators, 'eooperating pairsof contacts arranged in line formation supported by said insulators, and means wheres by a plurality of insulators may be moved in opposite "directions along said base member to makeor break a circuit through said contacts ata plurality of points.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of February, 192

" FRANK P. LAWLER. 

